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There are many common elements to the projects mentioned on my site. They use the potential of modern technology in unexpected ways; the Internet is the central medium, but the evolution of cheaper, higher-quality, more portable digital devices and storage formats are essential.

Post Secret is slightly different in that it uses decidedly lower-tech: the postcard. Okay, so the modern postal system is augmented by high technology in countless ways, but c’mon, it’s still snail mail. On a site full of digital cameras and memory cards, why would we discuss PostSecret?

You might expect these secrets to be mostly unprintable, but mainly they portray a lot of people with everyday sadness and unspoken expressions of emotion. Sometimes one is tempted to ask “why would you keep something like that a secret?” until we remember how hard it is sometimes simply to express yourself, to tell the truth, or to appear even slightly vulnerable and sensitive.

The “PostSecret archive” provides more options, and there’s a community if you really feel moved to participate further. The presentation and navigation seems less than ideal for the time being, and the ads sometimes obscure the postcards themselves, but you’ll may only want to read a few anyway — whether you realize that it’s not for you, or that it’s making you too sad!

Recently, there are a number of people who have decided instead of seeking the darker / sadder side of things, they instead are focusing on the happy, fun, and even silly side of life with PostSecrets that celebrate. Just recently there was a post about friendship rings and how they have become quite popular. If you are not familiar where to buy them, there are a number of internet sites that sell sterling silver friendship rings. Friendship rings run the gamut from a simple band, perhaps with a love knot, an eternity symbol, to gemstone encrusted engagement looking ring. However most defined a friendship ring as a ring that is worn to symbolize a close relationship that has no romantic undertone. They are frequently worn by two people to denote their appreciation and unconditional support for each other, even going as far as signifying a “non-blood brother or sister,” the closest somebody can get without being related by birth. A friend I had exchanged inexpensive friendship rings we created ourselves with beads and wire when we were in middle school. Then latter as young adults we decided to buy more expensive sterling silver rings. We wore them on our pinkie finger now that both of us were married. Just recently I sent a PostSecret with a pic of my friendship ring with only the words: “Call me!” No need to say anything else.

Now I say “that’s great!” about the above anecdote. Another post that seemed to start out dark, but ended up being celebratory was about a young man who feared he had contacted an STD because he had had unprotected sex with an unknown female at some college spring break. His fear and panic was palpable in his post. But someone must have read the post and replied with some advice- no..not the refrain of “have safe sex, use a condom”, but instead mentioned that the young man could test himself at home or in his case in his dorm room with an at home std test which could be purchased online. The writer even included a url to the STD test kit site. About a week later, another post appeared from the same young man happily proclaiming he was STD free and “safe sex” was now his mantra. I wonder whether he really did follow his own advice. And if not, he could always buy another at home STD test kit!

* * Update * *
What a strange forum. Have you ever tried to look into this? It is way out there in left field. There are so many out there with dirty little secrets & they all want to tell someone. Think about it. Don’t you have a secret you are dying to get off of your chest? I know that I do but I would not dare do it. What if it was totally anonymous? What if you could tell the whole world about it but no one knew that you were the one telling them. Wouldn’t it help you to feel better? Would it help you to get it off of your chest? Now, think about this, you would not want to elaborate about any illegal activity. At least not of any serious nature because I am sure that it is monitored & I am sure that if the police requested records from them they would surely not put up a fight on your behalf.

That aside, many people would have plenty of dirty little secrets to let lose of. There would be a lot of people with skeletons in their closets that are dying to let people have a little peek at, especially if they could do so anonymously. The site is doing well & if you have never looked into it you should stop what you are doing & see what it is all about even if it is a snail mail based forum… And if you have some good news, silly or thoughtful, go for it as well!